Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. was born January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas. He was the youngest of six children. Ryan grew up in Alvin, Texas. Much of Ryan's youth was spent in sports. While he spent two years on his high school basketball team, it was baseball that was he loved. During his senior year, he dominated the pitching mound. He had a 20–4 record, batted .700 in the state tournament, and was named to the All-State team before graduating high school in 1965. Ryan was selected by the New York Mets during the 1965 free-agent draft and played in the West Carolinas League beginning on September 11, 1966. During Ryan's time with this league, his teammates began to respect his fast ball. He had almost no control of his fast ball at this time but when a strike, no one could hit it. As a result the New York Mets called Ryan up to play in the major leagues at the end of the 1966 season. The Mets at that time were in great need of great players, because until 1969, the Mets had finished last or next to last in every season since the team was founded in 1962. Unfortunately for the Mets, the 1967 season did not bring the great play expected. Ryan was often homesick and therefore missed much of the 1967 season due to illness, an arm injury, and service with the U.S. Army. Ryan married his high school sweetheart, Ruth, in 1968. She moved to New York City to be closer to Ryan and help cure his homesickness. Along with the improved playing ability Ryan achieved during that season, the New York Mets also improved as a team. The Mets added two key people to their pitching staff, Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver. During the 1969 season, Ryan played as both a starting and relief pitcher, finishing the season with a 6–3 record. This type of pitching soon became the type for Ryan as he concentrated more on striking out batters than on winning games. Regardless, it was Ryan's pitching abilities that took the New York Mets to the league championships that year and later the World Series. Ryan saved the Mets butt for the World Series title when in the third game of the series, he made the crucial plays needed to earn the win. The Mets went on to upset the Baltimore Orioles after five games. Ryan, even with a world championship title to his credit, still felt uncomfortable in New York City, and requested to be traded in 1971. Without much discussion, the Mets agreed to Ryan's request and traded him along with three other players to the California Angels. Because of this move, he was able to move away from the East location he was never fond of. Looking back, as players and managers often do, this trade is often considered the worst in the history of the Mets. Once in California, Ryan blasted his way into superstar status. He stayed with the Angels for eight seasons, from 1972 through 1979. With the Angels Ryan struck out more than 300 batters for the first time. Ryan finished the 1972 season with 19 wins, 16 losses, and 329 strikeouts. With the end of the 1973 season, Ryan became the first-ever pitcher to have back-to-back seasons of over 300 strikeouts. Striking out 383 hitters, Ryan set an all-time major league record. Additionally, in the 1973 season, Ryan became only the fifth pitcher in baseball history to pitch two no-hit games in one season. Although Ryan played some of his best games with the California Angels, he still longed for his home Texas. His break came at the end of the 1979 season when he became a free agent. Ryan was immediately signed with the Houston Astros and became base-ball's first pitcher to earn one million dollars a year. Although this amount is common today, when it was awarded to Ryan, such a sum was unheard of at the time. Ryan pitched for the Astros from 1980 through the 1988 season. In 1981, he threw his fifth no-hitter. He led the league with the lowest earned run average in 1981 and 1987. In 1980, 1981, and 1986, the Astros were in the National League playoffs, but lost all three times. After Ryan completed his contract with the Astros, he again was a free agent at the end of the 1988 season. He was quickly picked up, this time by the Texas Rangers in time for the 1989 season. Although Ryan would not play in a playoff series with the Rangers, he did pitch his sixth and seventh no-hit games and led the American League in strikeouts in the 1989, 1990, and 1991 seasons.
Biography
Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. was born January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas. He was the youngest of six children. Ryan grew up in Alvin, Texas. Much of Ryan's youth was spent in sports. While he spent two years on his high school basketball team, it was baseball that was he loved. During his senior year, he dominated the pitching mound. He had a 20–4 record, batted .700 in the state tournament, and was named to the All-State team before graduating high school in 1965.
Ryan was selected by the New York Mets during the 1965 free-agent draft and played in the West Carolinas League beginning on September 11, 1966. During Ryan's time with this league, his teammates began to respect his fast ball. He had almost no control of his fast ball at this time but when a strike, no one could hit it.
As a result the New York Mets called Ryan up to play in the major leagues at the end of the 1966 season. The Mets at that time were in great need of great players, because until 1969, the Mets had finished last or next to last in every season since the team was founded in 1962. Unfortunately for the Mets, the 1967 season did not bring the great play expected. Ryan was often homesick and therefore missed much of the 1967 season due to illness, an arm injury, and service with the U.S. Army.
Ryan married his high school sweetheart, Ruth, in 1968. She moved to New York City to be closer to Ryan and help cure his homesickness. Along with the improved playing ability Ryan achieved during that season, the New York Mets also improved as a team. The Mets added two key people to their pitching staff, Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver.
During the 1969 season, Ryan played as both a starting and relief pitcher, finishing the season with a 6–3 record. This type of pitching soon became the type for Ryan as he concentrated more on striking out batters than on winning games. Regardless, it was Ryan's pitching abilities that took the New York Mets to the league championships that year and later the World Series. Ryan saved the Mets butt for the World Series title when in the third game of the series, he made the crucial plays needed to earn the win. The Mets went on to upset the Baltimore Orioles after five games.
Ryan, even with a world championship title to his credit, still felt uncomfortable in New York City, and requested to be traded in 1971. Without much discussion, the Mets agreed to Ryan's request and traded him along with three other players to the California Angels. Because of this move, he was able to move away from the East location he was never fond of. Looking back, as players and managers often do, this trade is often considered the worst in the history of the Mets. Once in California, Ryan blasted his way into superstar status. He stayed with the Angels for eight seasons, from 1972 through 1979.
With the Angels Ryan struck out more than 300 batters for the first time. Ryan finished the 1972 season with 19 wins, 16 losses, and 329 strikeouts. With the end of the 1973 season, Ryan became the first-ever pitcher to have back-to-back seasons of over 300 strikeouts. Striking out 383 hitters, Ryan set an all-time major league record. Additionally, in the 1973 season, Ryan became only the fifth pitcher in baseball history to pitch two no-hit games in one season.
Although Ryan played some of his best games with the California Angels, he still longed for his home Texas. His break came at the end of the 1979 season when he became a free agent. Ryan was immediately signed with the Houston Astros and became base-ball's first pitcher to earn one million dollars a year. Although this amount is common today, when it was awarded to Ryan, such a sum was unheard of at the time.
Ryan pitched for the Astros from 1980 through the 1988 season. In 1981, he threw his fifth no-hitter. He led the league with the lowest earned run average in 1981 and 1987. In 1980, 1981, and 1986, the Astros were in the National League playoffs, but lost all three times.
After Ryan completed his contract with the Astros, he again was a free agent at the end of the 1988 season. He was quickly picked up, this time by the Texas Rangers in time for the 1989 season. Although Ryan would not play in a playoff series with the Rangers, he did pitch his sixth and seventh no-hit games and led the American League in strikeouts in the 1989, 1990, and 1991 seasons.
Achievements